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What used to be on the site?

The site used to be home to the Britvic factory, which was a huge employer for Chelmsford and an iconic part of the city. The factory opened there in 1955 and quickly grew to employ hundreds of people.

At its height in 2012, the factory bottled 13 million soft drinks a year. Over the years, Britvic expanded and acquired many other soft drinks brands such as R Whites, Tango and Robinson’s squash. The factory finally closed its doors in March 2014.

The bubbles will light up when the clock strikes the hour

What’s the fuss about the Clock Tower?

The Britvic Clock Tower became an iconic part of the brand over the decades.

The tall white tower with a clock face and the Britvic logo has been a favourite landmark in Chelmsford. When it was revealed that a shopping centre was being built on the site, there were various announcements about whether or not the clock tower would remain.

However, despite a campaign by some residents, the tower is not staying and has been replaced by a modern, art installation equivalent.

The new clock tower has ‘bubbles’ of light which are illuminated and rise up the tower on the hour.